Transfer mechanism for automobile parking garages



April 7, 1953 J. J. ROBINSON, JR., EIAL 2,633,809

TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR AUTOMOBILE PARKING GARAGES Filed Aug. 3. 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Joseph HawwzdMWwssem 3nventors cl kabinsomefr.

attorneys A ril 7, 1953 J. J. ROBINSON, JR, EIAL 2,633,809

TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR AUTOMOBILE PARKING GARAGES Filed Aug. 5, 1950 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Z'mvemora Joseph J Robinson, J1:

Howard MWwssem 5:

#M VM Gttoruegs Patented Apr. 7, 1953 TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR AUTOMOBILE PARKING GARAGES Joseph J. Robinson, J r., Dover, and Howard M. Wassem, New Philadelphia, Ohio Application August 3, 1950, Serial No. 177,394

8 Claims.

The invention relates to the type of automobile parking or storage structures or lots comprising ,two spaced," parallel, multistory wings, each story being divided into bins or stalls to contain automobiles; turntables being provided if desirable for incoming and outgoing cars, and transfer and lifting mechanism being provided for receiving a car from the incoming turntable and level, if necessary, and moving it to a position where it is transferred to the outgoing turntable, in cases where such turntable is provided.

Automobile storage structures of this general character have been designed in the past, but owing to the extremely complex and expensive transfer and lifting mechanism such devices have not been satisfactory or commercially practical.

The present invention contemplates a simple and efficient transfer and lifting mechanism, for transferring an automobile from the incoming turntable to a storage bin or stall, and for removing the automobile from the storage bin or stall and transferring it to the outgoing turntable.

Another object is to provide a device of the character referred to in which the transfer and lifting mechanism is in the form of a lift truck, travelling longitudinally on rails between the two wings of multi-story bins or stalls.

A further object is to provide such a transfer and lifting mechanism in which a vertically movable and laterally shiftable platform is carried by the lift truck for receiving automobiles from a turntable and transferring them to a storage bin or stall, or vice versa.

- A still further object is to provide endless chain driven, and fluid cylinder operated, transfer arms upon the platform for engagement with the bumpers of an automobile for. pulling it from a turntable or storage bin onto the transfer and lift platform, and for pushing the automobile from the transfer platform into a storage bin or onto a turntable.

' Another object is to provide means for guiding an automobile onto the incoming turntable.

A further object is to provide means for guiding channel rails of the transfer platform into positive contact with channel rails in the storage bins and upon the turntables.

A still further object is to provide fluid operated means for laterally shifting the transfer platform.

Another object of the invention is to provide positive stopping means for retaining an automobile in a storagebin.

The above and other objects, apparent from the drawings and following description, may be attained, the above described difficulties overcome and the advantages and results obtained, by the apparatus, construction, arrangement, and combinations, subcombinations and parts, which comprise the present invention, a preferred embodiment of which, illustrative of the best mode in which applicants have contemplated applying the principle, being set forth in detail in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan, sectional view of an automobile parking or storage structure, provided with the improved transfer mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a transverse, sectional view through the same;

Fig. 3 a front elevation of one of the multistory parking or storage wings;

Fig. l an enlarged, top plan view of the improved transfer platform;

Fig. 5 a side elevation of the transfer platform;

Fig. 6 an enlarged side elevation of the transfer arms upon the platform;

Fig. 'I a top plan view of the transfer arms;

Fig. 8 an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional elevation of the gripping head of one of the transfer arms;

Fig. 9. a detached, perspective view of the automatically operated stop device for retainingthe cars in the storage bins; and

Fig. 10 a similar view of a modification of the stop device.

The parking .structure includes two spaced parallel, multi-story wings, indicated generally at 15 and 16. Each wing comprises vertical structural members I! and horizontal structural members !8 connected thereto at different levels for supporting the transversely disposed channel rails If! for receiving the wheels 20 of automobiles or similar vehicles 2 i The channel rails l9 are arranged in pairs,

properly spaced to receive the wheels of an automobile so that each pair of these channel rails forms a parking or storage bin or stall for receiving an automobile or similar vehicle. An outwardly and downwardly flared guide member 2 isprovided at the inner end of each channel rail I9 for a purpose to be later described;

' the same.

ends.

Any desired number of bins or stalls may be provided in each wing, three stores being shown in the drawings for the purpose of illustration.

The ground floor of each wing is also provided with channel rails l9, dividing the same into a plurality of parking or storage bins, excepting at one end where entrance and exit passages are provided.

An entrance passage 23 is shown in one end of the wing l5, leading to the entrance turntable 24. This entrance passage may include a pair of inwardly tapered troughs 25,.having rollers 26 along each side, to guide an incoming car onto the channel rails 2! of the entrance turntable 24.

Each of the channel rails 2'5 may have a guide member 22 at one end thereof, similar to the guide members 22 upon the channel rails ll! of the storage bins.

An exit passage 28 is .shown in one end of the ground floor of the wing l6 and includes the exit turntable Zia having the channel rails 21a. The construction of each of these turntables maybe A longitudinal corridor as is provided between the two parallel Wings 55 and i6, and has the track rails 30 longitudinally located therethrough on the ground level, upon which rails is mounted a'lift truck, indicated generally at 31, being provided with flanged traction wheels 32, riding upon the rails 30, whereby the lift truck may travel longitudinally the length of the corridor 29, between the wings l5 and it.

This lift truck is provided with the usual forks 33, with conventional lift-truck mechanism for raising and lowering said forks such as shown in parallel channels 37 rigidly connected together as by the cross members 38. This platform is mounted upon rollers 3e, journalled in bearings 40 carried by the frame members 35 and is adapted to be laterally shifted in either direction by means of the fluid cylinders 4i, mounted upon the frame members 35, the piston rods 42 thereof being connected as at 43 to the shiftable channel rails 31.

These fluid cylinders may be ofja conventional type, provided with solenoid valves 44 at opposite The cylinders 41 may be operated by air or other fluid if desired. For the purpose of illustration, an air compressor 45 is diagrammatically shown in Fig. 4., driven by a motor 45 which is connectedby wires 47 to a power line 38.

Hose lines 49 lead from the air compessor to the solenoid valves 44 at one end of each cylinder and similar hose lines lead from the air compressor to the solenoid valves 44 at the op posite ends of the cylinder,

An electric control switch Si is connected to the power line 48 and connected through wires 52 and 53 with the solenoid valves 44 at opposite ends of the cylinders 4|.

A motor reducer E4 is connected by wires 55 with an electric control switchile, which is connected to the power line 48. A sprocket wheel 51 upon the motor reducer is connected by the sprocket chain 58 with a sprocket wheel 59 upon the drive shaft 50 journalled in bearings bl connected to the shiftable channels 31.

Sprocket wheels 62 are fixed upon the shaft (iii, and are connected by the endless chains 63 with sprocket wheels E4 mounted upon the driven shaft 65, journalled in bearings 55 connected to the opposite end portions of the channels 31.

A table 51 is connected to the chains 53, as indicated at 51a, and has suspended therefrom a bracket 68 upon which is carried a pair of fluid cylinders 69 and 1B, the lower ends of which are pivotally connected, as at H, to bearings l2 mounted upon the bottom wall 13 of the bracket 68.

Each of the cylinders 69 and i9 is provided at its lower end with a solenoid valve i l, to which are connected air lines l5 and electric wires 16.

The piston rod ll, of the cylinder as, is pivot- ;ally connected, as at T8, to a lever arm l3, fulcrumed'as at 8E upon one side of the table 51. A spring 8i may be connected to the lever arm :9 and the table 67, .for normally returning the lever arm ill to folded position against the top of the 7 table.

A pair of heads 52 is provided upon the free end of the lever arm 19 for engagement with the bumper of an automobile as will be later described.

.A lever arm 33, similar to the arm 19, but oppositely disposed therefrom, isfulcrumed as at 84 upon the table and connected as at 85 to the piston rod 86 ofthe cylinder 78, and is provided at its free end with a pair of heads 82,'for engagement with the bumpers of an automobile in the same manner as the heads 82 upon the lever arms '19.

A spring 81 may be provided for returning the .lever arm 83 tofolded condition against the top of the table 61. If desired, instead of providing the springs 8i or 31 for returning the lever arms 19 and 83 to normal position, the cylinders 69 and ill may be provided with solenoid valves at opposite ends, in the same manner as shown and described with reference to the cylinders 4!, and

in Fig. 8.

g The fluid lines 15, and electric wires 15, may lead to reels 89 and 90 respectively, journalled upon the underside of one of the channels 31'.

The reel 39 is connected by fluid line 9! to the compressor 45 and the reel .tllis connected by by electric wires 92 to'the electric control switch 93, which is connected to the power lines 48.

These reels are provided to retrieve the fluid lines 75 and electric wires 76 as the table 67 is moved longitudinally along the lift and transfer platform by the chains 53, as will be later described.

For the purpose of retaining the vehicles with in the parking orstorage bins, an automatically operated stop mechanism may be provided in the end of each channel rail l9, as shown in Fig. 9. This stop arrangement comprises a lever arm 94, adapted to normally extend across the top of each channel i 9, near its end, a stop lug being provided upon one side of the channel for limiting the movement of the arm 94 in one direction.

The arm 94 isprovided with a substantially U- Ishape portion 96 at its 99 upon the adjacent end of each channel rail 31 of the shiftable transfer and lift platform.

A spring is connected to a depending lug I0l upon the U-shape portion 95 and to the adjacent side of the channel [9 for normally holding the stop arm 94 in the position shown in Fig. 9.

In Fig. 10 is shown a modification of this stop arrangement, in which the arm-lii2 is fixed upon a shaft I03, journalled as at I04 on one side of the channel rail 19 and provided at its lower end with a radial arm I05, to which is connected'a spring I95, the opposite end of which maybe connected to the lower end ofthe stop pin In! on the other side of the channel. A stud 99a is provided upon the laterally shiftable channel 31 of the transfer and lift platform for operating this stop device.

In the operation of the apparatus, when an automobile enters the entrance passage 23 it is driven into the roller guide troughs25, in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig; 1, which guide the wheels of the automobile onto the channel rails 21 of the entrance turntable 24, if a turntable is used at this point. Otherwise the vehicle may be driven directly onto the lift truck. With the automobile thus entirely supported upon the channel rails 21, the turntable 24 is turned 90 degrees in a clockwise direction. The lift truck 3|, with the channel rails 31 in normal position and located at ground level, is then moved along the track rails to a position where the channel rails '3'! thereof are ali ned with the channel rails 21 of the turntable.

The shift cylinders 4| are. then operated in the proper direction to shift the channel rails" El toward the turntable 24, to a pointwhere theends of the channel rails 3'! are received in the flared guides 22 at the adjacent ends of the channel rails 27 of the turntable.

With the lever arms '13 and 83 both inlowered position, the reversing motor reducer E lis then operated in a direction to move the chains 63, and with them the table 61, to the ends of thetransfer platformadjacent to the turntable 24. When the table 61 is properly positioned the motor reducer is-stopped as'by the limitswitch {E8 at the adjacent end of the platform, operated in conventional manner by the'table' 6i and the cylinder 6:9 is operated to raise the lever. arm 19 to the position shown in Fig. 6, so that the "concaved, serrated rubber-surfaces of theheads 82, upon the arm 19, will engage under the front bumper of the automobile sitting upon the turntableZfi. v

The reversing motor reducer 54 is then operated in the opposite direction, to move the chains 53 and the table 61 carried thereby to the opposite end of the transfer platform, pulling the automobile, through the lever arm--79 and .the

between theends of these. rails and the adjacent ends of the channel rails It in the Wings 15. and it, so that the lift truck may be freelymoved front bumper of the automobile, directly onto the H longitudinally through the corridor, 29, upon-the track rails 3t, and the transfer and lift platform' mobile. I

I34 thereof inay'b'e freely moved verticallyat any If it is desired to park the car in a bin in the wing l5, the shift cylinders 41 are then operated to move the channel rails 31 of the platform in that direction, so that the ends thereof enter'the flared guides 22 upon the channel rails 19 of that particular bin, in the manner shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6.

For this purpose, devices shown in Figs. 9 and flO are provided in the bins for preventing the cars from accidentally rolling out of the channel rails l9, it will be seen that this movement of the channel rails 3! will throw the proper arm 94 or |62,as the case may be, into open position.

Assuming that the car is to be parked in a bin in the wing l5, the lever arm 19 may remain in raised position, with the heads 82 thereof in engagement with the front bumper of the automobile. The motor reducer 54 is then operated in a direction to move the chains 63, and with them the table 51', toward the wing 15, pushing the automobile oif of the channel rails 31 of the lift and transfer platform and onto the channel rails [9 of the desired bin.

When the car is entirely parked within the bin, the lever arm 19 is lowered away fromthe bumper of the car, and the shift cylinders 4| are again operated to move the channel rails 31 back to normal position, and as the studs $39 or 99a, upon the channel rails. 31, are withdrawn from contact with the spring loaded stop arms 94 or'JlOZ, permitting them to be returned to normal positions, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, they provide a stop to prevent the automobile from IOlllllg' '0l1t of the bin in which it is parked.

If the car is to be parked in a bin in the wing 56, after the lift truck has been operated to move the transfer and lift platform into position adjacent to the desired bin, the shift cylinders 4| are operated in the proper direction to move the channel rails 3'! of the platform, toward the wing [6, so that the ends thereof are received in the flared guides 22 of the channel rails ill of the proper bin, as shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. The cylinder 59 is then operated to lower the .lever arm 12 out of engagement with the fro nt bumper ofthe automobile, and with bothlever arms 19 and 83 in lowered position, the motor reducer 5 is operated in a direction to'move the table 61 to the opposite end .of the'transfer rails 31 of the platform and onto the channel rails IQ of the desired bin, and movementof the table 51 is again stopped by the adjacent'llmit switch. v

To remove a vehicle from a parking bin, the lift truck is moved upon the track rails to the desired point and the platform thereof raised,

.if necessary, to the desiredlevel, and'operated as above described to laterally move the channel rails 31 thereof into engagement with the channel rails l9 of the desired bin, this being accom- ".plishedfthrough operation of the cylindersjil in the manner above described.

raisedby operation of the cylinder 69 or 36, to engage the front or rear bumper of the automobile, as the case may be, and the table. 3? is operated, through the. motor reducer 54,. to pull the automobile onto the channel rails 31 of the transfer platform.

The shift cylinders 46 are again operated to move the channelrails 3! to normal position, and the platform is lowered to the ground level, if necessary, and then moved to the position shown .in. Fig. 1 and operated to engage the channel rails 31 thereof with the channel rails 31a of the outgoing turntable 24a.

. Either lift arm 719 or 83, as may be required, is

then raised into engagement with the bumper of sage 2-3. The driver may then. get into the auto- U mobile and drive it out through the exit passage 28.

Any conventional means, such as an electric eye [OS-l l and target I H, may be incorporated to prevent forward or backward movement. of the lift truck or raising or lowering of the lift forks while, the channel rails. 37 thereof are engaged with the channels, in one of the bins.

Although, the fluid cylinders upon the transfer and lift platform are illustrated and. described as being. electrically operated, it should be understood that they may be controlled by any conventional hand-operated valve by routing. the fluid lines through the control. panel in the cab of. the lift truck.

We claim:

I. A transfer platform for vehicles comprising :asupporting structure, a spaced parallel pair of channel rails mounted upon said supporting structure for receiving the wheels of a. vehicle, a

pair of longitudinally disposed lever arms fulcrumed upon the platform and having forked heads. at their free ends, means for'raisin'g said levers-to engage the forked heads thereon with the underside of. the leading bumper of a. vehicle for pulling the vehicle onto said channel rails; or

with the undersidev of the trailing bumper for pull.- ing the vehicle off of said channel rails, and means for. moving, said lever arms throughoutthe length of the platform for pulling the vehicle onto forkedheads thereon with the underside" of the leading'bumper of a vehicle for pulling the vehicle onto said channel rails, or with the underside of the" trailing bumper. for pulling the vehicle on of said channel rails, and means for moving said lever arms throughout the length. of the platform for pulling; the. vehicle was or- Qfr of said. channel rails. l. 3. A. transfer platform for vehicles comprising a supporting structure, a spaced parallel pair of channel rails mounted: upon said supporting structure for receiving the Wheels of a vehicle,

a. pair of. longitudinally disposed lever arms fulcrumed upon the. platform and each having. a forked, head at its free end, provided with a corrugated concaved rubber contact surface, means for raising either of said levers to engage the forked head thereon with the underside of the leading bumper of a vehicle for .pulling the vehicle onto said channel rails, or with the underside of the trailing bumper for pulling the vehicle off of said channel rails, and means for moving said, lever armsthroughout the length of the platform. for pulling the vehicle onto or 01f of said channel rails.

4. A. transfer platform for vehicles comprising a supporting structure, a spaced parallel pair of channel rails mounted upon said supporting structure for receiving the wheels of a vehicle,

a. pair of longitudinally disposed leverv arms fulcrumed upon the platform and each having a forked. head'. at its free end, means for raising either of said levers to engage the forked head thereon with the underside of the leading bumper oi a vehicle for pulling the vehicle onto said channel rails, or with. the underside of the trailing bumper for pulling, the vehicle off of said channel rails, and an endless chain for moving said lever arms throughout the length of the platform for pulling the vehicle onto or 051 of said channel rails.

5. A transfer platform for vehicles comprising a supporting structure, a spaced parallel pair of channel rails mounted upon said supporting structure for receiving the: wheels of a vehicle, a longitudinally movable table carried by the platform, a pair of longitudinally disposed lever arms fulcrumed upon the table and each having a forked head at its free end, means for raising either of said levers to engage the forked head thereon with the underside of the leading bumper of a vehicle for pulling the vehicle onto said channel rails, or with the underside of the trailing bumper for pulling the vehicle off of said channel rails, and means for moving said table throughout the. length of the platform for pulling the vehicle onto or 01f of said channel rails.

6'. A transfer platform for vehicles comprising a. suppoiting structure, a spaced parallel pair of channel rails mounted upon said supporting structure for receiving the wheels of a vehicle, a longitudinally'movable table carried by the platform, a. pair of oppositely directed longitudinally disposedlever arm's'fulcrumed upon said table, a forked head upon the free end of each lever arm, means for raising one lever arm for engaging the forked" head thereon with the underside of a bumper of a vehicle to pull the vehicle in one direction onto or off of said channel rails, means for raising the other lever arm for engaging the forked head thereon with the underside of a bumper of a vehicle to pull the vehicle in the other direction onto or off of the channel rails, and means for moving said table throughout the length of' the platform.

'7. In a vehicle storage structure having a spaced pair of normally stationary channel rails for receiving the wheels of a vehicle, a transfer platform having a similarly spaced pair of channel rails movable into contactwith the adjacent ends of the first named channel rails, means for 9 pushing a vehicle from the channel rails on the platform onto the first named channel rails, and stop means upon the first named channel rails operated by the movement of the channel rails on the platform into engagement with said stop means.

8. In a vehicle storage structure having a spaced pair of normally stationary channel rails for receiving the wheels of a. vehicle, a transfer platform having a similarly spaced pair of channel rails movable into contact with the adjacent ends of the first named channel rails, means for pushing a vehicle from the channel rails on the platform onto the first named channel rails, and stop means comprising pivoted spring loaded 10 stop bars upon the first named channel rails and lugs on the channel rails on the platform for operating said stop bars.

JOSEPH J ROBINSON, JR. HOWARD M. WASSEM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 10 file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,937,189 Buettell et al Nov. 28, 1933 15 2,428,856 Sinclair Oct. 14. 1947 

